Adoptions in the US

Adoptions in the US: Who is Adopting and How are the Kids Doing?

What do we know about adoptions in the US? We talk with Ryan Hanlon, with National Council for Adoption, about the largest survey of adoptive parents ever conducted. We talk about who the adoptive parents are, the needs of the kids adopted, and so much more.

In this episode, we cover:

Who is adopting in the US? How are they similar and how do they differ from the general population of parents in relation to income and education level?
What are the primary motivations for parents to adopt? Does it differ based on domestic infant adoption, international adoption, and foster care adoption?
What type of special needs or diagnoses do adopted children have?
How well are adoptive parents meeting these needs?
How are adopted kids doing in school?
What degree of openness or contact with birth families is common for infant adoption, intercountry adoption, and adoptions from foster care?
How do adoptive parents view their relationship with birth families?
How common are attachment issues in adoption and what factors contribute to attachment problems?
How are parents meeting the needs of transracially adopted children?
How satisfied are adoptive parents with the decision to adopt? Knowing what they know now, would they do it again?